Display stand



1,687,962 B. E. WILLETT DISPLAY STAND Filed May 4, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Oct. 16, 1928.

animate r, B E W/LLETT Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,962

E. WILLETT DISPLAY STAND Filed May 4, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnventoz BE. W/LLETT Oct. 16, 1928.

B. E. WILLETT DISPLAY STAND Filed May 4, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 amount 5.E. W//. L ETT Patented 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES P E OFF CE.

BENEDICT E. WILLET'I, or DAYTON,

OHIO,

nssreuoa T JOHN T. mnrz, oF'nAY'roN,

orno- DISPLAY STAND.

Application filed May 4 1326 fSerial No. 1Q6,761.

This invention relates to display stands and one Ob ector the invention1s to provlde a display stand which will be simple in con struction, ofa strong durable character and Y attractive in appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a display standwhich canbe easily In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is: a plan Viewof a displaystand embodymg.

my invention; F 2 is a side elevation orthe same; Fig. is a longitudinalsectional view taken onthe line'33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a bottom planview, partly in section, of a portion or the base; i ig. 5 asectio'nahview taken on the line of Fig. 1; 6 is a bottom plan view ofone of the trays with the standard and spacing element in section; 7 islongitudinal sectional view taken on r 1e line '2" 7 of Fig. 6; 8 is adetail view 050116 of the spacing elementspartly brolren away, showingthe two members thereof se aratecl-; Fig. 9 is a detail view of thepositioning device for the lower end of the spacing element; Fig. 10 isadetail view of the body of thetray; Fig. 11 is a per spective view ofone of the sidewalls of the w a perspective view of one constituting apart of the tray; Fig. 12 of the channels t verse brace.

ective view averse brace; i l is a perspective vicw oi portionot one oithe supporting members interposed between the body and side wall or" thetray; Fig. 15 is a perspective riew of a portion of the base: Fig-16 isa for the tray; Fig. 13 is a detail view showing one of the transversemembers oil the'base and the supporting standards; Fig.1? is a detailView showing the means ror connecting the two members oi? the spacing:element; and Fig. 18 is'a section taken on the line 1S18 of Fig. 1.

In these drawings 1 have illustrated one embodiment of my invention butit will be understood that this particular embodiment of the othermember of the has been chosen for the purposeof -illustrm may takevarious forms Without departing from the spirit of the invention. In theparticular embodiment of them vention here illustrated the display standcomprises a base 1 above which are supported a plurality of trays, 2, 3and 4, theseand spaced apart so as to provide above each v65 tion onlyand that the display stand'as a' whole, as Well as the various partsthereof,

* trays-being arrangedone' above the other] tray ample space for thedisplay of merchandise. In the present instance, the base 1 is soconstructed that it also constitutes a tray for the receipt ofmerchandise, thus'providin'g the'stand with four trays. Obviously thenumber and size of the trays may be varied to accommodate the same tovvariouspurposes. Likewise the trays may be of any suitable character. Inthe present instance they are "rectangular in shape and comprise shallowreceptacles designed to receive. vegetables,

fruits or similar articles of various kinds] but it will beunderstoodthat the character oi the tray will'be determined, in part at"least, by the'character of the merchandise which is to be displayedthereon and that the term tray is intended to include any structurewhich will properly supportjthe As here shown, each ofthe upper traysis'o'f a slightly less length and merchandise.

width than'the next lowertray, thus giving the display stand anattractive appearance, faoilitatin the display of merchandise andincreasing the "accessibility,thereof.

The several trays may be supported above the base in any suitable mannerand, as here shown, one or more standards 5 extend up.-.

wardly from the base and th rough the several trays. Associated with thestandard or standi, itable means for maintaining the, s in properpositions with relation one to the other and'with relation to the baseand for holding the same rigidly' 'in position. The number of standardsemployed Wlll 'depend upon the size and shape of the trays.

The trays 0-1? the present stand being of an oblong shape I haveutilized two standards arranged near the respectiveends of the displaystand. As here shown, the combined base and tray 1 is provided beneaththe body or supporting wall thereof with a reinforc ngmembcr 6 whichextends lengthwise thereof and may be of Wood or any other suitablematerial. This reinforcing member serves as a support for the standards5 and also imparts to the body of the tray a strength suflicient tocarry the load imposed thereon by the upper trays. The reinforcingmember 6 has formed therein vertical openings through which thestandards 5 extend and at the lower end of each opening a connectingmember or socket is secured and provides means for connecting thestandard with the reinforcing member. Preferably the socket 7 is screwthreaded so-that the standard may be screwed into and out. of the same,thus enabling a standard to be very quickly and easily placed on orremoved from the supporting base. The reinforcing member is ofaconsiderable thickness and the-standard fits snugly within the openingtherein so that it will be held firmly in an upright position andprevented from wobbling. v

The means for properly spacing the several trays and holding the samerigidly against movement with relation to the standard may take variousforms but I prefer to utilize for this purpose tubular spacing elements8 w iich are interposed between adjacent trays and which extend aboutthestandard 5.

These tubular spacing elements are of a diameter considerably greaterthan the diamwe tween the lateral walls thereof, thereby provlding afour sided tubular structure substantially rectangular in crosssection.In asmuch as the spacin element is of an mterior diameter considerablygreater than the I diameter of the standard I place within the lower endof each spacing element. a posi tioning device 11, (see Fig; 9) which isin the form of a U-shaped member of a width substanti ally equal to theinterior diameter of the spacing element and the lower edges of whichrest 3011 the tray, the transverse portion of the U-shaped member ha vinan open-- ing 12 through which the standard may er;- tend. The twomembers of the spacing element maybe secured one to the other by rivets,or in any suitable manner, but, .in the present instance, I have struckfrom the walls of the spacing. element and from the contacting walls ofthepositioning member 11,

tongues of metal 13, as shown in Fig. 17,

which arebent laterally to firmly unite these parts thus providing avery simple and strong connection between the parts. I have shownfasteningdevices at the lower ends only of the spacing elements for thereason that the 7 upper ends are otherwise held against displacement, aswill hereafter appear. I have also shown the several spacing elementsasso ciated with each standard as "of different diameters, each upperelement being of less This diameter than the next lower element. notonly accommodates the spacing elements to the particular trays wlthwhich they are associated but it also imparts to the structure as awhole a more pleasing appearance.

To assemblethe device the standards are first screwed into the sockets 7and the spacing elements and trays are then successively placed inposition on the standards. The upper ends of the standards will thenproject slightly above thewall or supporting surfaceof the upper tray 4,and anut 14 is threaded onto the upper end of eachstandard and serves toretain the trays thereon and, further, to clamp the several parts infirm engagementso that'they will be held against relative movement. Itwill be noted that the upper tray is clamped between the nut and theupper endof itsspacing, element and that the "intermediatetrays areclamped between the ends ofadjacent spacing elements, and when the nut14 is tightened down these trays will be veryrigidly held in position.removing the nut 14 the several trays and spacing elements may bequicklyand easily removed from the standards and the standards removed from thesockets so that the whole'may be packed on the base in a very compactbundle.

. The trays may be of any suitable construetion but that here shown issuch as to provide a tray of relatively light weight'which willbe of astrong durable character and will be attractive in appearance. As hereshown, each tray is formed from sheet metal and comprises a body portion15 consisting of a plate of sheet metal having its edges turned upwardat the four sides and forming flanges 16, the ends of the being cut awayor beveled, asshown at 17. This plate is provided with apertures 18through which the standards 5 may extend. The four-side walls for thetray attached to the body portion. t by means of the flanges gitudinaledges bent upon itself to form unper and lower channels 20 and 21,theedges of the strip being spaced apart to form a slot along the innerside of the side wall. TlllS side wall is a J lied to the bod iortion ofthe tray by moving the same lengthwise on the edge of the. body portionwit .the flange 16 extending into the u finer chann...!

20 of the side wall and with the edge of in: lower channel beneath. thebody por tion 15 The four side walls are respectively of a It will beobvious'that by.

lli)

i) and in the construction here showi'i, each side wall, comprises astrip of m'etal 19 hawng its lonthe lower channels 21 lengthcorresponding substantially to the length of the respective edges of thebody portion of the tray and when in'position will project above andbelow said body portion,

as shown in Fig. 7; The'tray is provided adjacent to each standard witha transverse supporting structure which serves to, so strengthen thebody portion of the tray asto enable it to carry the load imposedthereon without being distorted. In the present construction, thissupporting :structure comprises a channel bar 22 having in its upper"transverse wall an opening 23 through which the standard may pass. 1steach'end the I transverse portion of the channel is provided with adownturned rib 24Yspaced from the ends of thevertical flanges a distancesufiicient to enable it to enter the lower channel of the, After. thetwo lon-' the same along said channels until the opening 23 is in linewith the opening 18.. The

slots in the inner sides of the side wallsare of a width substantiallyequal to the combined thickness the body portion 15 of the tray and ofthe transverse portion of the reinforcing member 22, so that when thisreinforcing member is in position beneath the body portion the two partswill substantially fill the slot. I also prefer to insert in of the sidemember, angle bars 25' the vertical flanges of which rest within thechannels 21 and the horizontal portions of which extend beneath and incontact with'the lower surface of the body portion 15 of the tray. Theseangle bars,

or filler strips, are inserted in the lower chan-,

nel of each side wall. Along the longitudinal edges'of the tray thefiller, strip is divided I into three parts, of which is arrangedbetween the two reinforcing members 22 and the others of which arearranged between the respective reinforcing members and the ends of'thetray. These angle bars or filler strips serve to lill 1n the spacebetweenthc edge of the lower chan rel and the lower sure face of thebody portion andte provide a-rel ativcly wide contact with the bodyportion so that the si. e walls and body portion are held againstrelative displacement. Furthcr, they serve to properly position thetransverse reinforcing members 22 with relation to the body portion ofthe tray. After the several side walls have been placed in posi tion onthe body portion of the tray they may seemed. thereon in any suitableman ner, but I preferably accomplish this by applyingcoruer pieces orangle clips 26ft) the adja ent ends of the side walls of the re'spcctive corners of the tray, these clips being walls and bent .aboutthe ends of the respective side therewith. 7 a r The transversereinforcing structure may also include, a second channel shaped member27, which fits within the channel 22 and is provided with an opening 28adapted to register with the opening 23 in the channel, 22 and oneflange of which isof relatively great width, as shown at 29, and istruss shapedto further reinforce the channel.

pressedfirmly into engagement This transverse member 27 is of such awidth that the upper endof the spacing element 8 which supports thatparticular; tray will fit snugly within the same, as shown in Fig. 7

member 27 may, if desired, besecured' to the spacing element but this isnot necessary as thesparts will be held firmly in their'proper relativepositions whenthe display stand is assembled and the nuts l l on thestandard tightened down.

The combined base and tray 1 is quite similar 1n construction to theother trays and,

comprises a body portion 15 and side walls ,19 which are held inpositionby the corner piecesor clips 26. As has been stated, the

body portion 15 of the tray 1 is reinforced by a longitudinal bar 6 andon each side of this barand spaced from the edgesof the tray arelongitudinally extending plates 30 hay:

ing their upper portions bent outwardly, as

shown at 31, and arranged in supporting contact w th the body'portionfofthe tray, and having their outer edges bent downwardly,

as shown at, 32, to enter the lower channels ion in the side member-s19;Rigidly secured to these side plates or flanges 30, adjacent to thestandards 5, are supporting members or legs 83,7here shown in the formof angle irons riveted to the side plates. Those portions ofthe sideplates between the legs have their lower portions bent inwardly, asshown at, .34,to provide flanges to stiffen the platesBO.

Extending transversely tothe base, at each end of'thelongitudinalreinforcing bar 6.

is a vertical plate 35, which is rigidly secured at its ends to therespective legs 33 and has at its upper edge a flange 36 in supportingengagement with the body portion 15 of the tray and has at its flange37.

The construction of the trays here described, is not only a veryinexpensive one, because of the ease with which the parts may lower edgea stiffening ,be formed and assembled, but it provides a tray which,whileof very light weight, is of a very strong rigid construction andwill support its intended load without being distorted. Further, themanner of assen'ibling the parts avoids the use of rivets or bolts andtive appearance.

While I have shown andder properly finished, gives the tray anattracaribed one emthus provides a. smooth surface which, whenunderstood that I do not desireto be limited the several parts in theirassembled po 1. In a display stand, a base, a standard secured to andextending upwardly from said base, a tubular spacin element supported bysaid and extending upwardly about said standard, a tray supp rted bysaidspacing element and having an opening through wl ich said standardextends, said tray 'com-' prising a body portion, a channel shapedreinforcing member extending transversely to said body portion beneaththe same, and a second channel shaped reinforcing member fitting withinthe first mentioned reinforcing member and .adapted to receive the upperend of said spacing element, and meansconneeted with the upper end ofsaid standard to etain 2. In a display stand, a tray comp a body portionhaving flanged edges, side walls having channels to receive the flangededges of said body portion and adapted to be applied to said bodyportion by movement lengthwise thereof, and retaining devices applied tothe adjacentends of said side walls at the corners of said tray.

3. In a display stand, a tray comprising a body portion having upwardlyextending flanges at the several edges thereof, side walls having upperand lower channels, the upper channel of each of said side walls beingadapted to receive a flange at one edge of said body portion when saidside wall is moved lengthwise of said body portion, angle strips eachhaving a vertical flange supported in the lower channel. of one of saicside walls and a horizontal flange extending beneath said body portion,and retaining devices applied to the adjacent ends of said sidewalls atthe corners of said tray.

transverse flanges extending inwardly be neath said body portion, andmeans for re-v taining said sidewalls in position on said body portion.

5. In a display stand, a tray comprisinga body portion having upwardlyextending flanges at the several edges thereof, side walls eachcomprising a strip of metal. having its of tr-r one train the other, astandard. extending up;

upper and lower edges'fbent upon itself to form upper and lower channelsand a slot communicating with said channels, whereby said side wall maybe applied to sa id body portion by moving the same lengthwise there ofwith one of said flanges inthe upper channelofsaid side wall, areinforcing men'iber ar ranged beneath said bodypo'rtion and having lipsextending into the lower channels of two of said sidewalls, and anglestrips having vertical flanges arranged within the lower channels ofsaid S1dwalls and transverse flanges extending inwardly beneath saidbody portion, and clips pressed ontothe adjacent ends of said sidewallsat the corners of said tray.

6. In a display stand, a tray comprising a body portion having anupwardlyextending flange at each edge thereof, a transverse reinforcingmember arranged beneath said body portion and having at its endsdepending lips arranged in substantially the same vertical planes withthe flanges at the corresponding edges of said body portion, side wallshaving upper channels to embrace the respective flanges on said body andlower channelsto embrace the lips on said reinforcing member,

and means for retaining said side walls in tixed'positions with relationone to the other,

7. In a display stand, a tray comprising body portion having upwardlyextending flanges at the several edges thereof, side walls eachcomprising a strip of metal having its upper .and lower edges bentuponitself to form upper and lower channels and a slot communicating with.said channel, whereby said side wall may be applied to said body portionby moving the same lengthwise there of with one of said flan es in theup er channel of saidside wall, reinforcing member arranged beneath saidbody porti'on'and having'lips at its ends extending into the lowerchannels of two of said side walls,and clips press-ed onto the adjacentends walls at thecorners of said tray.

8. ;In a display stand, a base comprising an upper portion constitutingastray and having at the edges upwardly extending flanges of said sidethereof, side plates extending lengthwise of said base beneath the sameandhaving later ally entencing portions engaging said body portion andprovided at their outer edges with downwardly extending flanges, sidewalls mounted on the edges of said body por tion'and having upperchannels to receive the flanges on said body portion and lower channelsto receive the flanges of said longitudinal plate, supporting leg igidlysecured to said plates, and transverse reinforcing members arranged nearthe respective ends of i said base and rigidly secured to the respective9. In a display stand, a base, a pluralits arranged above said base andspaced.

wardly from said base through the several trays, spacing elementssurrounding said standard for malntainlng said trays in proper spacedrelation one to the other. each spacingv element comprising twochannel-shaped members adapted to fit one within the other to form atubular element, and devices car-.

ried by said trays to receive the upper ends of the respective spacingelements to retain the two members thereof in their assembledposiprovided with an opening to receive said standard and having flangesto engage the corresponding spacing elements to retain the same inspaced relation to said standard.

11. In a display stand, a base having an upper portion forminga tray, areinforcing member arranged beneath said upper portion of said base andhaving an opening therethrough, a socket member rigidly secured to saidreinforcing member at the lower end of said opening, a standardextending through the opening in said reinforcing member and into saidsocket member, said socket member and said standard having cooperatingparts to retain said standard in said socket member,

a plurality of trays arranged one above the other, each having anopening through which said standard extends, spacing elements arrangedabout said standard to support the respective trays in proper relationone to the otherand to said base, means carried by the upper end of saidstandard to retain the several parts in their assembled positions.

' 12. In a display stand, an elongated base having an upper portionforming a tray, a

reinforcing member extending lengthwise of a said base beneath saidupper portion there of and having openings therethrough, a socket membercarriedby said reinforcing member at the lower end of each of saidopenings, standards extending through the respective openings in saidsocketmembers, said standards and said socket members having coopcrating parts to retain said standards in said socket members, aplurality of trays arranged above said base and spaced onefrom the otherand each having openings through which said standards extend, spacingelements surrounding the respective standards between adjacent trays andserving-to support the respective trays in proper positions-withrelation one to the other, transverse reinforcing members arrangedbeneath each tray, having openings'to receive the respective standardsand each having flanges at the lateral edges thereof to embrace therespective upper end of each standard to secure the several parts intheir assembledpositions,

' In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto. l l

BENEDICT E. WILLETT.

spacing elements, and means carried by the

